Patent · US10518205B2 · B2 · US

Air cleaner

(11) Publication number

US10518205B2

(21) Application number

15/363,438

(22) Filing date

2016-11-29

(30) Priority date

2016-02-26

(43) Publication date

2019-12-31

(45) Date of grant

2019-12-31

(51) IPC

B01D 46/00; B01D 46/24; B01D 46/44; F24F 8/108; A61L 9/22; B01D 19/00; F24F 13/20; F24F 13/28

(52) CPC

B01D Separation: 46/0047, 2273/30, 46/0005, 46/0008, 46/002, 46/24, 46/2403, 46/442, 46/58
A61L Methods or apparatus for sterilising materials or objects in general; disinfection, sterilisation or deodorisation of air; chemical aspects of bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles; materials for bandages, dressings, absorbent pads or surgical articles: 2209/111, 2209/14, 9/22
F24F Air-conditioning; air-humidification; ventilation; use of air currents for screening: 11/52, 11/79, 13/20, 13/28, 2013/205, 2013/207, 2221/12, 3/1603, 8/108, 8/80

(73) Assignee

LG Electronics Inc

(72) Inventors

Yeongcheol MUN; Hyunpil Ha; Soonki Jung; Jaekyun PARK; Soohyun BAE

(54) Title

Air cleaner

(57) Abstract

An air cleaner is provided that may include a case including a first suction inlet, the case having a cylindrical or cone shape; a fan housing provided inside of the case, the fan housing accommodating a fan therein; a filter provided at a suction side of the fan, the filter filtering foreign materials in air which is suctioned through the first suction inlet; and a housing suction flow path formed between an outer surface of the fan housing and an inner surface of the case, the housing suction flow path allowing air which is suctioned through the first suction inlet to flow toward and through the filter. The housing suction flow path may include a first flow path inlet having a predetermined first width, and a second flow path inlet through which air having passed through the first flow path inlet flows, the second flow path inlet having a second width greater than the first width.

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Claims (21)

An air cleaner, comprising: a case including a first suction inlet, the first suction inlet including a lower suction inlet and an upper suction inlet; a fan housing provided inside of the upper suction inlet, the fan housing accommodating a fan therein; a filter provided at a suction side of the fan, the filter filtering foreign materials in air which is suctioned through the first suction inlet, the filter being provided inside of the lower suction inlet and having an upper end portion located below a lower end portion of the fan housing; and a housing suction flow path formed between an outer surface of the fan housing and the upper suction inlet, the housing suction flow path allowing air which is suctioned through the upper suction inlet to flow toward and through the filter, wherein the housing suction flow path includes: a first flow path inlet having a predetermined first width; and a second flow path inlet through which air having passed through the first flow path inlet flows, the second flow path inlet having a second width greater than the first width, and wherein an uppermost suction portion of the upper suction inlet is located above the upper end portion of the filter such that air suctioned through the uppermost suction portion of the upper suction inlet flows downward and passes through the filter.
The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the fan housing includes: a first main body having a first inner width; and a second main body having a second inner width smaller than the first inner width.
The air cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the fan housing includes a third main body that extends at an incline such that an inner width of the third main body decreases toward the second main body from the first main body.
The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the housing suction flow path communicates with the upper suction inlet.
The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the fan housing is provided at an upper side of the filter, and wherein air which is suctioned through the first suction inlet passes through the filter in the radial direction, and flows in an upward direction toward the fan housing.
The air cleaner according to claim 5, further including a filter frame that supports the filter, the filter frame being coupled to a lower side of the fan housing.
The air cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the filter has a cylindrical shape, and is slidably coupled in the radial direction to the filter frame.
The air cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the fan housing includes a first cut-out portion that supports the filter frame.
The air cleaner according to claim 8, further including: a sensor mounting portion provided on the filter frame, and in which a sensor device is mounted; and a second cut-out portion provided in the fan housing, the second cut-out portion supporting the sensor mounting portion.
The air cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the filter frame includes: a frame inner wall; a frame outer wall that surrounds the frame inner wall; and a housing insertion portion formed between an inner circumferential surface of the frame outer wall and an outer circumferential surface of the frame inner wall, wherein at least a portion of the fan housing is inserted into the housing insertion portion.
The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first suction inlet is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the case, along a circumferential direction, to guide suction of air in 360-degree directions, with respect to a center line in a vertical direction that passes by an inside center of the case.
The air cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the filter frame includes: a first frame that forms a lower portion of the filter frame; a second frame that forms an upper portion of the filter frame; and a first filter support that extends in an upward direction toward the second frame from the first frame, wherein a mounting space of the filter is defined by the first and second frames and the first filter support.
The air cleaner according to claim 12, further including: a locking projection that protrudes in a radial direction from an inner circumferential surface of the case; and a locking portion formed on the first frame, the locking portion being coupled to the locking projection.
The air cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the case includes: a first case having the first suction inlet; and a second case provided at an upper side of the first case, the second case having a second suction inlet.
The air cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the fan housing includes: a first fan housing provided inside of the first case; and a second fan housing provided inside of the second case, wherein the housing suction flow path is formed inside of each of the first case and the second case.
The air cleaner according to claim 1, further including: a base configured to be located on a ground; and a suction grill coupled to an upper side of the base, the suction grill supporting a lower portion of the case.
The air cleaner according to claim 16, further including: a suction hole provided in the suction grill, the suction hole guiding suction of air to an inside of the case; and a base suction inlet formed in a space between the base and the suction grill, the base suction inlet guiding air to the suction hole.
The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the case has a cylindrical or cone shape.
The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the lower suction inlet and the upper suction inlet are arranged in a circumferential direction of the case.
The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first flow path inlet is located above the second flow path inlet such that air passing through first flow path flows downward and passes through the second flow path.
The air cleaner according to claim 20, wherein the first second flow path inlet is located above the upper end portion of the filter such that air flowing through second flow path flows downward and passes through the filter.

Description

1. Field

An air cleaner is disclosed herein.

2. Background

An air cleaner is a device that suctions in and purifies contaminated air and then discharges purified air. For example, the air cleaner may include a blower that introduces outside air into the air cleaner and a filter capable of filtering dust and bacteria, for example.

Generally, the air cleaner is configured to purify an indoor space, such as a home or an office. According to the air cleaner in the related art, there is a problem that a capacity thereof is limited, and thus, purification of air in an entire indoor space is limited. Accordingly, air around the air cleaner is purified whereas air in a space away from the air cleaner is not purified.

In order to solve this problem, there are efforts to improve a performance of a fan provided in the air cleaner. However, noise generated by the fan gradually increases as a blowing amount of the fan increases. Accordingly, there is a problem is that reliability of the product is decreased. Finally, there is inconvenience that the air cleaner has to be moved by a user in order to purify air in the desired space.

A related art air cleaner is disclosed in Korean Publication No. KR10-2012-0071992 published on Jul. 3, 2012 and entitled AIR CLEANER, which is hereby incorporated by reference. According to this disclosure, air cleaning components, such as the fan and a filter are installed, in an inside of a case having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape of a main body of the air cleaner.

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Record as JSON

{
  "publication_number": "US10518205B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Air cleaner",
  "abstract": "An air cleaner is provided that may include a case including a first suction inlet, the case having a cylindrical or cone shape; a fan housing provided inside of the case, the fan housing accommodating a fan therein; a filter provided at a suction side of the fan, the filter filtering foreign materials in air which is suctioned through the first suction inlet; and a housing suction flow path formed between an outer surface of the fan housing and an inner surface of the case, the housing suction flow path allowing air which is suctioned through the first suction inlet to flow toward and through the filter. The housing suction flow path may include a first flow path inlet having a predetermined first width, and a second flow path inlet through which air having passed through the first flow path inlet flows, the second flow path inlet having a second width greater than the first width.",
  "claims": [
    "1. An air cleaner, comprising: a case including a first suction inlet, the first suction inlet including a lower suction inlet and an upper suction inlet; a fan housing provided inside of the upper suction inlet, the fan housing accommodating a fan therein; a filter provided at a suction side of the fan, the filter filtering foreign materials in air which is suctioned through the first suction inlet, the filter being provided inside of the lower suction inlet and having an upper end portion located below a lower end portion of the fan housing; and a housing suction flow path formed between an outer surface of the fan housing and the upper suction inlet, the housing suction flow path allowing air which is suctioned through the upper suction inlet to flow toward and through the filter, wherein the housing suction flow path includes: a first flow path inlet having a predetermined first width; and a second flow path inlet through which air having passed through the first flow path inlet flows, the second flow path inlet having a second width greater than the first width, and wherein an uppermost suction portion of the upper suction inlet is located above the upper end portion of the filter such that air suctioned through the uppermost suction portion of the upper suction inlet flows downward and passes through the filter.",
    "2. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the fan housing includes: a first main body having a first inner width; and a second main body having a second inner width smaller than the first inner width.",
    "3. The air cleaner according to claim 2, wherein the fan housing includes a third main body that extends at an incline such that an inner width of the third main body decreases toward the second main body from the first main body.",
    "4. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the housing suction flow path communicates with the upper suction inlet.",
    "5. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the fan housing is provided at an upper side of the filter, and wherein air which is suctioned through the first suction inlet passes through the filter in the radial direction, and flows in an upward direction toward the fan housing.",
    "6. The air cleaner according to claim 5, further including a filter frame that supports the filter, the filter frame being coupled to a lower side of the fan housing.",
    "7. The air cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the filter has a cylindrical shape, and is slidably coupled in the radial direction to the filter frame.",
    "8. The air cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the fan housing includes a first cut-out portion that supports the filter frame.",
    "9. The air cleaner according to claim 8, further including: a sensor mounting portion provided on the filter frame, and in which a sensor device is mounted; and a second cut-out portion provided in the fan housing, the second cut-out portion supporting the sensor mounting portion.",
    "10. The air cleaner according to claim 9, wherein the filter frame includes: a frame inner wall; a frame outer wall that surrounds the frame inner wall; and a housing insertion portion formed between an inner circumferential surface of the frame outer wall and an outer circumferential surface of the frame inner wall, wherein at least a portion of the fan housing is inserted into the housing insertion portion.",
    "11. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first suction inlet is formed on an outer circumferential surface of the case, along a circumferential direction, to guide suction of air in 360-degree directions, with respect to a center line in a vertical direction that passes by an inside center of the case.",
    "12. The air cleaner according to claim 6, wherein the filter frame includes: a first frame that forms a lower portion of the filter frame; a second frame that forms an upper portion of the filter frame; and a first filter support that extends in an upward direction toward the second frame from the first frame, wherein a mounting space of the filter is defined by the first and second frames and the first filter support.",
    "13. The air cleaner according to claim 12, further including: a locking projection that protrudes in a radial direction from an inner circumferential surface of the case; and a locking portion formed on the first frame, the locking portion being coupled to the locking projection.",
    "14. The air cleaner according to claim 13, wherein the case includes: a first case having the first suction inlet; and a second case provided at an upper side of the first case, the second case having a second suction inlet.",
    "15. The air cleaner according to claim 14, wherein the fan housing includes: a first fan housing provided inside of the first case; and a second fan housing provided inside of the second case, wherein the housing suction flow path is formed inside of each of the first case and the second case.",
    "16. The air cleaner according to claim 1, further including: a base configured to be located on a ground; and a suction grill coupled to an upper side of the base, the suction grill supporting a lower portion of the case.",
    "17. The air cleaner according to claim 16, further including: a suction hole provided in the suction grill, the suction hole guiding suction of air to an inside of the case; and a base suction inlet formed in a space between the base and the suction grill, the base suction inlet guiding air to the suction hole.",
    "18. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the case has a cylindrical or cone shape.",
    "19. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the lower suction inlet and the upper suction inlet are arranged in a circumferential direction of the case.",
    "20. The air cleaner according to claim 1, wherein the first flow path inlet is located above the second flow path inlet such that air passing through first flow path flows downward and passes through the second flow path.",
    "21. The air cleaner according to claim 20, wherein the first second flow path inlet is located above the upper end portion of the filter such that air flowing through second flow path flows downward and passes through the filter."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field\n\nAn air cleaner is disclosed herein.\n\n2. Background\n\nAn air cleaner is a device that suctions in and purifies contaminated air and then discharges purified air. For example, the air cleaner may include a blower that introduces outside air into the air cleaner and a filter capable of filtering dust and bacteria, for example.\n\nGenerally, the air cleaner is configured to purify an indoor space, such as a home or an office. According to the air cleaner in the related art, there is a problem that a capacity thereof is limited, and thus, purification of air in an entire indoor space is limited. Accordingly, air around the air cleaner is purified whereas air in a space away from the air cleaner is not purified.\n\nIn order to solve this problem, there are efforts to improve a performance of a fan provided in the air cleaner. However, noise generated by the fan gradually increases as a blowing amount of the fan increases. Accordingly, there is a problem is that reliability of the product is decreased. Finally, there is inconvenience that the air cleaner has to be moved by a user in order to purify air in the desired space.\n\nA related art air cleaner is disclosed in Korean Publication No. KR10-2012-0071992 published on Jul. 3, 2012 and entitled AIR CLEANER, which is hereby incorporated by reference. According to this disclosure, air cleaning components, such as the fan and a filter are installed, in an inside of a case having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape of a main body of the air cleaner.",
  "cpc": [
    "B01D 46/0047",
    "A61L 2209/111",
    "A61L 2209/14",
    "A61L 9/22",
    "B01D 2273/30",
    "B01D 46/0005",
    "B01D 46/0008",
    "B01D 46/002",
    "B01D 46/24",
    "B01D 46/2403",
    "B01D 46/442",
    "B01D 46/58",
    "F24F 11/52",
    "F24F 11/79",
    "F24F 13/20",
    "F24F 13/28",
    "F24F 2013/205",
    "F24F 2013/207",
    "F24F 2221/12",
    "F24F 3/1603",
    "F24F 8/108",
    "F24F 8/80"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B01D 46/00",
    "B01D 46/24",
    "B01D 46/44",
    "F24F 8/108",
    "A61L 9/22",
    "B01D 19/00",
    "F24F 13/20",
    "F24F 13/28"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "LG Electronics Inc"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Yeongcheol MUN",
    "Hyunpil Ha",
    "Soonki Jung",
    "Jaekyun PARK",
    "Soohyun BAE"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2016-11-29",
  "publication_date": "2019-12-31",
  "grant_date": "2019-12-31",
  "priority_date": "2016-02-26",
  "application_number": "US-201615363438-A",
  "family_id": "57421759",
  "cited_by_count": 20,
  "citations": [
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  ]
}

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